Portable electric space heater



June 30, 1964 w. R. BOECHER 3,139,516

PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 Fig. 5 w

' 50 William R. Boecher l 42 INVENTOR.

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June 30, 1964 w. R. BOECHER PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

William R. Beecher Filed Nov. 15, 1962 United States, Patent 3,139,516 PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER William R. Boecher, R.F.D., Box 150, Cordova, Ill.

Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,831

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-341) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in room or space heaters of the electric, hot water type and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a unit of this character which is self-contained and which may be easily carried from place to place. I 1

Another highly important object of the present invention is to provide a portable, self-contained heater of the aforementioned character comprising means for automatically preventing the electric heating means from functioning if there is insufficient water in the system, thus promoting safety. 7

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a portable electricfheater of the character set forth comprising a novel combination and arrangement whereby the heated water circulates by a thermosiphon action thereby obviating the usual circulating pump.

Other objects are to provide a portable electric room or space heater which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, highly eflicient and reliable in use, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low .cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings fo'rminga part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a heater constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through one side portion of the unit, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 3; 8

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical transverse section through the rear portion of the unit, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale through the waterheating unit, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a generally rectangular casing, housing or cabinet of suitable metal or other material which is designated generally by the reference numeral 6. The housing 6 comprises an open bottom and is mounted on a base 7. Toward this end, the housing 6 includes an inturned, apertured bottom flange 8 which is secured by suitable fasteners 9 on the top 10 of the base 7. The base 7 includes an inturned bottom flange 11.

The housing 6 further includes side walls 12, a rear wall 13 having screened, louvered air inlet openings 14 therein, a front wall 15 having a screened air outlet opening 16 therein, and a top 17 having secured thereon a carrying handle 18. t

A radiator 19 is mounted in the front portion of the housing 6 adjacent the screened opening 16. In the embodiment shown, brackets 20 secure the radiator 19 to the top 10 of the base 7. The radiator 19 is provided with a drain cock 21. t

A water heating unit 22 is provided in the rear portion of the cabinet 6. The heating unit 22 comprises a horizontal cylindrical water tank 23 which is mounted transversely in the housing 6. Brackets 24 support the tank 23 on the top 10 of the base 7. A delivery hose 25 connects the top of the tank 23 with the upper portion of the radiator 19. A return hose 26 connects the lower portion of the radiator 19 to the bottom portion of the tank 23. p 1

Mounted horizontally on suitable brackets 27 and 28 in the upper portion of the housing 6 is a water supply tank or reservoir 29. A filler neck 30 extends upwardly from the top of the reservoir 29, said filler neck passing through the top 17 of the housing 6 and having threaded .thereon a cap 31. A vent tube 32 connects the top of fan or blower 34 comprises a suitable electric motor 35 which is supported horizontally on the top 10 of the base 7 by a suitable bracket or stand 36. The electric motor 35 drives a fan 37 adjacent the radiator 19.

As best seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the unit 22 further includes a generally U-shaped electric heating element 38 which is mounted longitudinally in the tank 23. Means comprising nut and washer assemblies 39 secure the end portions of the element 38 in one of the end walls 40 of the tank 23. I

. An electric circuit comprising conductor wires :41 and 42 (FIGURE 5) electrically connects the element 38 to a'suitable source of current supply. Interposed in the circuit to the element 38 is an automatic control switch 43. The switch 43 is mounted in a suitable bracket 44 provided therefor on the water tank or reservoir 29. A lever 45 is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on a suitable bracket 46 in the water tank or reservoir 29. A float 47, operable in the water reservoir 29, is connected to one end of the lever 45. The other end of the lever 45 has pivotally connected thereto an operating rod or plunger 48 which, as the float 47 rises with the level of the water in the reservoir 29, is engageable with the switch 43 for closing same. Incidentally, the switch 43 is normally open. Also interposed in the circuit to the element 38 is a manual switch 49. If desired, the switch 49 may be thermostatically operated. Conductor wires 50 and 51 are electrically connected to the fan or blower motor 35. A manual switch 52 is interposed in the conductor wire 50. The switches 49 and 52 are .mounted beneath the top 17 of the housing 6 and extend upwardly through said top for operation.

It is thought that the operation of the unit will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the reservoir 29 is filled to the desired level with water by removing the cap 31. Of course, the water flows by gravity to the tank 23 and the radiator 19 through the pipe 33, the hoses 25 and 26, etc. As the system fills and the level of the water rises in the reservoir 29, the float 47 rises therewith and closes the switch 43. To heat the water in the tank 23 the switch 49 is closed for energizing the element 38. Reference numeral 53 designates a suitable insulating element on the end 40 of the tank 23 for the heating element 38. As the temperature of the water in the tank 23 rises, said water flows by thermosiphon action through the hose 25 to the radiator 19 and passes downwardly through said radiator to return to said tank 23 through the hose 26. To blow air through the radiator 19 to be heated thereby, the switch 52 is closed for energizing the motor 35 thus driving the fan 37. Cold air is drawn into the cabinet 7 through the openings 14 and is blown by the fan 37 through the radiator 19, the warmed air leaving the housing through the screened opening 16 in the front of said housing.

Patented June 30, 1 964 functions as a humidifier. Should the water in the reser-,

voir 29 fall below a predetermined level the float 47 drops therewith and permits the switch 43 to open thereby automatically deenergizing the element 38.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the'exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable space heater comprising a housing together with a'radiator of the type having a passage for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therethrough, water heater, water reservoir and an air fan each mounted in said housing, means for driving said air fan, said housing having air inlet and discharge openings in its walls, said heater being disposed adjacent said inlet opening and preheating the air passing therethrough, said radiator being disposed adjacent said discharge opening, said fan being disposed between and in alignment vw'th said heater and radiator and receiving preheated air from the former and discharging it upon the latter and through said discharge opening, said reservoir being disposed above said radiator and heater, means connecting said reservoir to said heater and retaining the latter filled with water, means placing said heater in Water flow relation to said radiator, a vent extending through said housing and communicating the reservoir with the atmosphere, a vent pipe conducting vapor from the top of said radiator to the top of said reservoir thereby supplying humidifying vapor to the atmosphere.

2. A portable space heater comprising a housing together with a radiator of the type having a passage for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therethrough, water heater, water reservoir and an air fan each mounted in said housing, means for driving said air fan, said housing having air inlet and discharge openings in its walls, said heater being disposed adjacent said inlet opening and preheating the air passing therethrough, said radiator being disposed adjacent said discharge opening, said fan being disposed between and in alignment with said heater and radiator and receiving preheated air from the former and discharging it upon the latter and through said discharge opening, said reservoir being disposed above said radiator and heater, means connecting said reservoir to said heater and retaining the latter filled with water, means placing said heater in water flow relation to said radiator, a vent extending through said housing and communicating the reservoir with the atmosphere, a vent pipe conducting vapor from the top of said radiator to the top of said reservoir thereby supplying humidifying vapor to the atmosphere, said reservoir having a filling neck extending through the top of said housing and a filling cap for said neck, said cap having a continuously open passage therethrough comprising said vent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,357 Kovesdy May 2, 1933 2,151,140 Novak Mar. 21, 1939 2,234,869 Loveless Mar. 11, 1941 2,244,172 Novak June 3, 1941 2,305,551 Novak Dec. 15, 1942 2,491,849 Broome Dec. 20, 1949 2,786,634 Witte Mar. 26, 1957 

1. A PORTABLE SPACE HEATER COMPRISING A HOUSING TOGETHER WITH A RADIATOR OF THE TYPE HAVING A PASSAGE FOR THE FLOW OF A HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID THERETHROUGH, WATER HEATER, WATER RESERVOIR AND AN AIR FAN EACH MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID AIR FAN, SAID HOUSING HAVING AIR INLET AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS IN ITS WALLS, SAID HEATER BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID INLET OPENING AND PREHATING THE AIR PASSING THERETHROUGH, SAID RADIATOR BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID FAN BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID HEATER AND RADIATOR AND RECEIVING PREHEATED AIR FROM THE FORMER AND DISCHARGING UPON THE LATTER AND THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID RESERVOIR BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID RADIATOR AND HEATER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID HEATER AND RETAINING THE LATTER FILLED WITH WATER, MEANS PLACING SAID HEATER IN WATER FLOW RELATION TO SAID RADIATOR, A VENT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOUSING AND COMMUNICATING THE RESERVOIR WITH THE ATMOSPHERE, A VENT PIPE CONDUCTING VAPOR FROM THE TOP OF SAID RADIATOR TO THE TOP OF SAID RESERVOIR THEREBY SUPPLYING HUMIDIFYING VAPOR TO THE ATMOSPHERE. 